Audible Book Review: Tracking Magic: Rylee Adamson, Book 0.25 by Shannon Mayer

This is a quick prequel to help me decide on the series. The use of foul language overshadowed the story line for me.
Tracking Magic: Rylee Adamson, Book 0.25
By: Shannon Mayer
Narrated by: Lauren Fortgang

Length: 1 hr and 4 mins
Release date: 01-19-21
Publisher: Podium Audio
Genre: Paranormal, Urban Fantasy
My Rating: 3.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 3.0; Narration 4.25.

Publisher's Summary
My name is Rylee, and I am a Tracker.
When children go missing, and the Humans have no leads, I'm the one they call. I am their last hope in bringing home the lost ones. I salvage what they cannot. A missing girl and a deadly item belonging to a power-mad demon need to be found before the killing begins.
The problem? This is my first salvage. And I have no idea what I'm doing. These were the moments that began to define me, my skills, and my drive to face down the darkest side of the supernatural in order to bring children home. This is where my journey began....
Tracking Magic is a prequel to the Rylee Adamson series.
©2015 Shannon Mayer (P)2021 Podium Audio

Review:
Rylee is a 17 year-old was put out by her parents who blame her for losing her little sister, Burget. Rylee is living with her mentor, Giselle, a witch who is trying to train Rylee until they can determine what her skill is. A man breaks into their house seeking a special stone that Riley doesn’t have. An FBI agent arrives determined to prove that Riley killed Burget. Rylee believes she can find her sister and senses she is out in the community. When Riley and Giselle go looking, they come across a young witch, Millie, who is wearing the magical stone. Millie is enslaved by a demon who first threatens to kill Rylee and Giselle but then changes his punishment.

I understand this prequel was written after several of the main books were released. I have not read any of the other stories, so all characters are new to me. So, we meet some primary characters, but it seemed disjointed to me and did not help me to understand what is anticipated. Perhaps it is not a good place to start the series after all. I like the premise of the tracking skills but my interest in learning more about the characters was diminished by the foul language, particularly the “F” word, that was used too much, IMO, especially since the series appears to target a younger audience. At some point I may try book 1, but if this is a taste of the series, I am not going to be rushing to read more.

Audio Notes: Lauren Fortgang does a fine job with the narration. She provides appropriate voices and energy. Unfortunately, the good narration did not help my feelings towards the book.

Source: 7/19/2021 Audible Plus Catalog. This qualifies for 2021Audiobook goal.

Book Review: Priceless (A Rylee Adamson Novel, Book 1) by Shannon Mayer

This is an engaging, paranormal adventure. 

Priceless (A Rylee Adamson Novel, Book 1)

by Shannon Mayer

File Size: 713 KB
Print Length: 234 pages
Publisher: HiJinks Ink Publishing (November 19, 2013)
ASIN: B00A6CNV08
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

"My name is Rylee and I am a Tracker."
When children go missing, and the Humans have no leads, I'm the one they call. I am their last hope in bringing home the lost ones. I salvage what they cannot.
I'm on the FBI's wanted list.
I have a werewolf for a pet, a Witch of a best friend, and have no need for anyone else in my life.
But when a salvage starts to spin out of control, help comes from a most unexpected direction.
One that is dangerously dark, brooding, and doesn't know a thing about the supernatural.
One whose kisses set me on fire.

Review:
Rylee had some harsh times growing up in foster homes. She was a young teen when her little sister was kidnapped while she was with her at the park. There have always been suspicions that Rylee was responsible although there was never proof. Rejected by the parents she’d tried so hard to please, Rylee finds herself ousted but this brings her to meet the strange people who can help her begin to understand the odd gifts she has. Now Rylee knows that she is a tracker, with some other supernatural gifts, and she knows that the world is more than most people see.

Rylee’s mentor, Giselle, is an old seer who is losing touch with reality and needs Rylee’s help and protection. Her best friend, Milly, another foster child helped by Giselle, is a young witch who longs to become part of a coven. Rylee’s pet, Alex, is a werewolf who has been rejected by the local pack due to his lack of aggression. These three have helped Rylee on many searches to bring back children stolen by supernatural forces. Sometimes they are lucky to bring them back alive. Other times all they can bring is closure.

Rylee has a new kidnapping to investigate and it is eerily, and frighteningly, similar to her sister’s kidnapping. Only Alex is around to help as Giselle is too sick and Milly has reasons to stay away from Rylee.

Rylee never expected to get help from the FBI investigator, O’Shea, who has watched her for ten years hoping he will finally find the evidence to bring her in. He is tailing her on his own time when he stumbles into a situation that is hard to believe…but explains some of the unexplained mysteries. What he learns sends him on the run from authorities and causes him to step to Rylee’s side to help her.

There is a lot of action and a variety of supernatural beings, some good, many bad. At times it seems that Rylee makes rookie mistakes and that she unexpectedly, almost too easily, gets past the dangers. I really enjoyed Rylee and O’Shea as the strong, primary characters and I liked their slowly developing connection. Rylee’s friends are good secondary characters and I especially enjoyed the humor added through Alex, the lap werewolf. The story is told primarily in third person with a few shifts to first person. The story is entertaining and reads quickly.

I recommend this to readers who like Mercy Thompson and Charlie Davidson. When I want another adventure fix, and those favorites aren't available, I may well pick up more of Rylee's series to enjoy.

This was a title I purchased for $.99 in January 2014 so it is from my TBR shelf.